Successful prosecution for paramedic attack

A paramedic, who was the victim of a horrific attack, has welcomed the conclusion of a court case brought against a young woman who assaulted an EEAST crew last year. 

The woman, from Huntingdon, was sentenced at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court last month after admitting two counts of assault by beating and one count of assault of causing actual bodily harm following an incident in November. 

The 18-year-old, who was drunk and had shortness of breath, turned on the two EEAST staff members who came to help her on a November night in Huntingdon. 

This individual spat at one member of staff and grabbed the other and sunk her teeth into her arm, causing her skin to break. White also hit another member of the public during the incident. 

On 13th January, she was sentenced to an 18 month community order, which included 180 hours of community service and an emotional wellbeing course. She was also ordered to pay compensation and court costs. 

The EEAST paramedic, who went to court to see her attacker sentenced, said this week:“I have had verbal abuse before, but have never been physically attacked before doing my job. 

“It affected me physically and emotionally and I am still physically scarred three months on. After it happened, I was quite worried to go out to similar patients and I was also getting anxious about patients who present as more challenging, such as those with dementia, who have no control over what they are doing.” 

The paramedic also praised the support she received from her line manager and senior managers at EEAST who gave her extra support when she was ready to return to work. 

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh welcomed the sentence: “I will not tolerate attacks to my staff, your safety and well-being is of utmost importance and we have protocols in place to ensure that assaults, whether verbal or physical, are reported and dealt with appropriately. 

“The vast majority of people are supportive of the ambulance service, but unfortunately there are still those few people who obstruct you as you try to go about your work helping people around the region. 

“I consider any attack - whether it involves staff, vehicles, or our property - to be completely unacceptable and we must do everything we can to pursue cases as far as possible.”

Published 19th February 2015